GLS and DB Schenker confirm details of new partnership
The GLS Group and DB Schenker have today confirmed that they have formed a strategic partnership agreement on European level. In line with the framework agreement for the “non-exclusive cooperation” which was signed in early September, GLS will expand its offer of freight services, DB Schenker Logistics will offer a Europe-wide parcel service. and the two companies will undertake to “assist each other in their transport services”.
In practice, this means that GLS will deliver parcels for DB subsidiary DB Schenker Logistics, and DB Schenker Logistics will handle part-load transports (pallets) for GLS.
Commenting on the rationale for the agreement, Rico Back, CEO of the GLS Group, said: “Freight customers are increasingly requesting parcel services.
“GLS already works together with many freight companies and networks, including DB Schenker Logistics on a national level. By signing the cooperation agreement, we have extended our cooperation to include the European economic area.”
Ewald Kaiser, Board Member of Schenker AG for Land Transport, said: “Driven by e-commerce, the European parcel market offers excellent growth opportunities.”
DB Schenker was also attracted to the idea of being able to offer its customers an “all-in-one solution” that can provide everything from parcel services to part- and full-load solutions. The company already has its own parcel offering in Sweden, Norway, Finland and Poland – and it said that the cooperation with GLS “complements” this existing service.
DB Schenker Logistics plans to offer parcel services for corporate customers in Europe under its own brand.
GLS covers 37 countries in Europe with its parcel services and it has its own freight networks in Belgium and the Netherlands. “But we also have customers in other countries who would like to send freight or pallets through us,” said Back. “Therefore, the non-exclusive cooperation under which DB Schenker Logistics will handle part-load consignments is an ideal solution for our customers.”
Under the cooperation agreement, DB Schenker Logistics will manage parts of the transport chain itself and in general will collect parcels together with freight from customers. GLS provides further transport and delivery to businesses and their end customers.
The two companies will look to implement the new cooperative arrangements from 1 January 2016. The roll-out will begin in Germany and “then step by step across Europe”.
